RECORD-BREAKING SENTENCE: Jailed for 46 Years under Lèse-Majesté Law
The Supreme Court has delivered a historic, non-suspended sentence of 46 years in prison to “Busbas” Mongkol Thirakhot, a 31-year-old activist from Chiang Rai.
December 12, 2025
The conviction stems from charges under the lèse-majesté law (Article 112) and the Computer Crime Act related to 27 Facebook posts. The Supreme Court’s judgment is final, immediately concluding the case. Busbas has already been detained for over 694 days since the Appeals Court verdict, having been continuously denied bail throughout the judicial process.
Case Details and Judicial Progression
On 11 December 2025, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) reported that the Chiang Rai Provincial Court read the Supreme Court’s verdict. The Supreme Court amended the previous 50-year sentence handed down by the Appeals Court to 46-year imprisonment without probation.
The case originated in April 2021 when 27-year-old Busbas, notably sporting the green hair of the Joker villain, travelled from Chiang Rai to stage a hunger strike in front of the Bangkok Criminal Court. This symbolic act was a protest against the denial of bail for the "Ratsadorn" group of political detainees, which he viewed as an injustice given they had not yet been convicted. Following this protest, Busbas was arrested and prosecuted in two separate cases for a total of 27 Facebook posts.
- Trial Court (26 January 2023): Found him guilty on 14 counts (3 years per count, reduced for cooperation to a total of 28 years). The court dismissed 13 other counts, stating they did not clearly refer to the current monarch or did not constitute defamation, insult, or threat.
- Appeals Court (18 January 2024): Overturned the lower court on 11 dismissed counts, finding him guilty on the basis of a 2013 Supreme Court ruling (6374/2556) that extended Article 112's protection to deceased former monarchs. This raised the total sentence to 50 years, which, at the time, marked the highest-ever penalty for Lèse-Majesté in Thai history.
- Supreme Court (11 December 2025): Reduced the final sentence to 46 years, making the conviction definitive.
112WATCH ACTION PLAN: What You Can Do to Help Busbas?
The finality of this severe sentence demands an urgent and coordinated international response. Below are recommended actions to support Busbas and push for the amendment or repeal of Article 112:
- Amplify His Case: Share Busbas’s story and the severity of his 46-year sentence widely across social media platforms. Use hashtags such as #FreeBusbas, #Thailand112, and #SaveThaiDemocracy to ensure the case remains visible to international media and human rights organisations.
- Contact Foreign Governments and NGOs: Immediately reach out to your local diplomatic missions (e.g., U.S. Embassy, EU Delegation), Members of Parliament, and human rights bodies (Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch). Demand that they issue public statements condemning the verdict as a violation of free expression and urge the Thai government to ensure Busbas’s immediate release.
- Support Legal Defense Funds: The legal battle against Article 112 is ongoing. Make a donation to organisations on the ground, such as the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), who are crucial in providing legal aid and documentation for activists like Busbas.
- Appeal for Royal Mercy: While politically sensitive, the Thai king holds the prerogative to grant a Royal Pardon or a commutation of the sentence. Supporters can respectfully sign petitions or coordinate advocacy efforts urging a humanitarian intervention to commute or pardon the remainder of Busbas's term.
- Advocate for Policy Change: Urge foreign governments and international bodies to condition trade, partnership, and aid agreements with Thailand on verifiable improvements in human rights standards, specifically calling for the abolition or significant amendment of the lèse-majesté law (Article 112).
